2001 Dodge Dakota complaints

I ALSO HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA I BOUGHT IT USED IN 2004 AND SOMETIMES THE GEAR SHIFT DOES NOT GO WHERE THE INDICATOR SAY IT IS. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY OR STAYS ON. HORN WORKS ONLY SOMETIMES. DEALER SAYS I NEED A NEW CLOCKSPRING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A PULLING SENSATION AND AN ODOR WAS PRESENT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVED THAT THE WHEELS WERE EXCESSIVELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE CALIPERS LOCKING UP, WHICH DAMAGED THE ROTORS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,776 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,876.

STUDS ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKE CAUSING EXHAUST GASES TO ENTER THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. *TR

LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF, INTERIOR LIGHT GO OUT, DOOR ALARM GOES OFF AT 70 MPH, WIPERS GO OFF BY THEMSELVES, HORN BEEPS, TRUCK WONT START. QUICK FIX , DISCOUNT THE BATTERY AT RESET THE SYSTEM, PERMANENT FIX TO REPLACE THE CENTRAL TIMING MODULE. *TR

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED WITH 39K MILES I HAD IT FOR A MONTH AND NOTICED VIBRATIONS WHEN BRAKING FROM 50 - 40 MPH. I FIGURED THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OF THIS I TOOK THE ROTORS OFF AND INTO A PARTS STORE TO HAVE THEM CHECKED, THEY WERE WARPED AND TOO THIN TO TURN (LATHE). I BOUGHT NEW ROTORS AND PADS, CLEANED AND GREASED THE CALIPER SLIDE PINS AND REASSEMBLED THE BRAKES. AFTER THIS THE BRAKING VIBRATION WENT AWAY. RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND ONCE I GOT TO MY EXIT I NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, ALSO THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT HARD. I PULLED OVER TO FIND THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE SMOKING. I JACKED UP THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE (WHEELS OFF THE GROUND) AND FOUND THAT NEITHER WHEEL/TIRE COULD BE TURNED BY HAND. AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS TO COOL DOWN THE WHEELS COULD THEN BE TURNED. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP THAT CONFIRMED THE BRAKE PAD WEAR INDICATED THAT FOR THE MOST PART THE PISTONS AND SLIDES SEEMED TO BE OPERATING PROPERLY. I AM AN A.S.E. CERTIFIED MASTER MECHANIC AND HAVE NEVER SEEN BRAKES OVERHEAT LIKE THIS AND CAUSE CALIPER LOCK UP. HAPPEN. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING INHERENTLY WRONG WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE SALES LOT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THEY FILED BANKRUPTCY AND WERE CLOSED DOWN. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR ONE ISSUE UNDER THE RECALL, BUT ANOTHER ISSUE HAD TO BE REPAIRED FOR $700 AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE SHE WAS THE SECOND OWNER, SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,289. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, HE IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GEAR SHIFT. UPDATED 09/11/08*JB

2001 DODGE DAKOTA LEAKS WATER DURING RAINSTORMS ON THE PASSENGER FRONT FLOOR. *TR

KNOWING THE DAKOTA'S HAVE BRAKE ISSUES, I REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS WITH AFTERMARKET SLOTTED ROTORS IN HOPES THAT THE ROTOR WOULD STAY COOL & NOT WARP. HOWEVER EVEN AFTER ADDING NEW ROTORS I HAVE HAD ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS ONE OR THE OTHER FRONT ROTORS HAVE LOCKED UP. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT I COMPLETELY DRAINED & REPLACED ALL THE BRAKE FLUID W/SYNTHETIC BRAKE FLUID. I HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE THEY LOCKED UP AGAIN. THIS TIME I REPLACED BOTH CALIPERS, IT'S ONLY BEEN A MONTH EVERYTHING IS WORKING FOR NOW. DODGE SHOULD RECALL! EITHER THERE BRAKE BOOSTER OR CALIPERS ARE FLAWED BECAUSE THE BRAKE CALIPER TEND TO STICK CAUSING OVERHEATING, WRONG TO THE POINT WHERE THE PADS ARE SO HOT YOUR ENGULFING OTHER VEHICLES IN SMOKE!

ON FREEWAY AT 75 MPH. HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND AND THE VEHICLE TUGGED TO THE LEFT. MANAGED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND PULL OFF TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. THE TIRE WAS DAMAGED BUT INTACT, IT WAS A VALVE STEM FAILURE. TOOK THE TIRE TO SHOP WHERE PURCHASED AND WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN SHUTTING OFF AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE DOOR HINGES BEGAN COMING APART ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, AND THE MIDDLE OF THE DOOR ALSO BEGAN TO RIP. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CONTACT WELDED THE DOOR IN PLACE; HOWEVER, IT HAS BEGUN TO COME APART AGAIN AND WILL NOT REMAIN LOCKED. THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS ALSO COME OFF TRACK. THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD GLUE TO SECURE THE WINDOW IN PLACE. IN APRIL OF 2008, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE RELATED TO THE EMISSION PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK. THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED. THE CONTACT HAS PHOTOS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,997. UPDATED 05/28/08 *BF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP WAS LOOSING PRESSURE AND THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW HOSE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/27/08

ALL LIGHTS START TURNING ON AND OFF IN A RANDOM PATTERN. MUST HOLD DRIVER DOOR OPEN WHILE DRIVING TO HAVE A CONSISTENT HEADLIGHT. EVERY LIGHT IS AFFECTED. DASH LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, HEAD LIGHTS, 4 WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE LIGHTS, HORN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND SEVERAL OTHER LIGHTING RELATED ISSUES. THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS AT NIGHT SINCE THERE ARE NO HEADLIGHTS UNLESS THE DRIVER DOOR IS HELD OPEN WHILE TRAVELING. I WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE PROHIBITIVE COST OF CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM BY A DODGE SERVICE GARAGE. UNABLE TO LOCATE SOURCE OF PROBLEM DUE TO THE RANDOMNESS OF THE VARIOUS LIGHT SYSTEMS TURNING ON AND OFF. ALSO, IT IS NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE GROUND LEAD ON THE BATTERY WHEN VEHICLE IS LEFT UNATTENDED. *TR

CLOCK SPRING - NO HORN - NO DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG HAVE REPLACED 2 SETS OF FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS AND LINES ON THIS TRUCK DUE TO FRONT BRAKES LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING. NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. *TR

MY WIFE DROVE MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT DURING THE SNOW DAYS AND COMPLAINED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER. OVER A FEW WEEKS, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THEY WOULD FLICKER, ALONG WITH THE DASH LIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, DOME LIGHT, AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THEN, AS I HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING AT NIGHT MUCH, I HAD MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WITH ME COMING FROM RICHMOND TO CONNERSVILLE, IN, AND THIS BECAME SEVERE WHILE IT WAS RAINING WITH FOG. ALL LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF AND COME BACK ON, THEY WOULD ALSO GO OFF EVERYTHING THE DELAYED WIPERS WOULD GO WORK. THEN THE DELAYED WIPERS WOULD GO EVERYTIME THE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER. AS THE DODGE DEALER COULD NOT NARROW THE PROBLEM DOWN WITHOUT SPENDING MUCH MONEY, I TRIED TO TROUBLESHOOT MYSELF SINCE I DID NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM WAS WHAT THEY INSTRUCTED IT MAY BE. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, IT ENDED UP BEING WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS, THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) OR CENTRAL TIMING MODULE (CTM) OR TIME AND ALARM MODULE WHICH ARE ALL THE SAME THING BUT THE NAME HAS CHANGED AT TIMES. THIS MODULE CONTROLS THE LIGHTS, WIPERS, KEYLESS ENTRY, ETC. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER DUE TO THIS MODULE THAT ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS BY PEOPLE PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OF HEADLIGHTS OR NOT SEEING MY TAILLIGHTS AT TIMES. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS IN DODGE FORUMS AND HAVE SEEN WHERE DODGE KNOWS THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM (MAYBE THAT'S WHY THEY KEEP RENAMING THE DEVICE). I JUST TODAY HAD THE MODULE THAT I ORDERED PROGRAMMED IN MY TRUCK

2001 DODGE DAKOTA AND THE NOT ABLE TO BE REMEDIED AND INADEQUATE 4.7L ENGINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. HE STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DISENGAGED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NOT BEING LUBED. IN ADDITION, THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS. THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,689 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,471.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE ELECTRIC SHIFT TRANSFER CASE DID NOT FULLY ENGAGE INTO GEAR WHEN THE CONTACT MOVED THE TRANSFER CASE SELECTOR SWITCH. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. ONE WEEK LATER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD TO RESCHEDULE DUE TO A LACK OF PARTS. THE REPAIR WAS RESCHEDULED FOR MAY; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT NO REPAIRS WERE DONE ON SATURDAYS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,250.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND WHEN HE RETRIEVED IT, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HE BELIEVES THAT THE RECALL REPAIR CAUSED THE CLOCK SPRING TO FAIL. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $197 TO REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,970. UPDATE 04-02-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT UNTIL AFTER HE PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM HAVING A RECALL PERFORMED. UPDATED

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR FOUR MONTHS, THE REARVIEW MIRROR FELL FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK THAT SPREAD ALL THE WAY DOWN THE WINDSHIELD. SHE PURCHASED ADHESIVE AND REPLACED THE REARVIEW MIRROR; HOWEVER, THE WINDSHIELD WAS STILL CRACKED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 101,300.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTED IT INTO DRIVE, WITHOUT APPLYING HIS FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

2001 DODGE DAKOTA WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR SATURATED. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE DEALER PERFORMED WORK ACCORDING TO THE TSB AND PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. MECHANIC THEN REPLACED THE 90 DEGREE ELBOW ON THE DRAINING TUBE. *KB

THE FUSE FOR MY DIMMER SWITCH KEPT BLOWING. AND I KEPT REPLACING. BECAUSE WITH OUT IT IN I CAN NOT SEE GAUGES. AND MY OUTSIDE MARKER LIGHT FUSE KEPT DOING SAME. I REPLACED FUSES AGAIN TODAY THEY IMMEDIATELY BLEW. I ROTATED THE DIMMER SWITCH TO THE LOWEST POSITION. AGAIN I REPLACED FUSES. THEN I TURNED ON LIGHTS AND SLOWLY ROTATED DIMMER SWITCH UP AND I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM CORNER OF INSTRUMENT PANEL NEAR WHERE SWITCH SETS IN DASH. *TR

POWER TRAIN, MANY TIMES WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS SHIFTED INTO A GEAR, IT IS NOT ACTUALLY IN THE GEAR SELECTED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH HIS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND HESITATE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO ALLOW THE FRONT DISC BRAKES TO COOL OFF SINCE THEY WERE DRAGGING. THE BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 64000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30000. THE CONTACT WILL ADD THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE AND PURCHASE DATE.

I HAVE A 2001 DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 PURCHASED NEW AND THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT ROTORS WEAR OUT EXTREMELY FAST. THEY BECOME DAMAGED ON THE INSIDE OF THE ROTOR APPEARING EXTREMELY RUSTED AND AS IF MAYBE THEY OVERHEATED ON THE INSIDE. 64,000 AND THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES. DEALERS DENY THIS IS COMMON , MY BROTHER HAS A 2002 (PURCHASED NEW) AND HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. BALL JOINTS FAILED ON BOTH TRUCKS , STEERING RACK AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS ON BOTH . *TR

BALL JOINT PROBLEM ON 4X2 DODGE DAKOTA. POPPING GRATING SOUND AND LACK OF CONTROL IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES. THESE USE THE SAME UPPER BALL JOINT ASSY. AS THE 4X4 UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THESE CAUSE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUES. *TR

ENGINE STALLING AND / OR FAILURE SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING SOMETIMES AT STARTUP. I HAVE HAD THIS 2001 DODGE DAKOTA FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AT ANYTIME. EACH TIME I WOULD TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC THE TRUCK WOULD BE RUNNING GOOD AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY HAVE SCANNED THE ENGINE AND FOUND NO FAULTS. I HAVE READ OF MANY CUSTOMERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEMS AND I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL BY THE CHRYSLER CORP. ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. ONE HEADLIGHT BULB FAILED. THE VEHICLE MANUAL INSTRUCTS ONE TO REMOVE TWO BOLTS TO ACCESS THE BULB. THIS BULB IS SUBJECT TO THE WEATHER AND HAS RUSTED. I NEED TO REPLACE THE BOLTS. DODGE INDICATES THAT THE BOLT IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY AND IS PART OF THE HEADLIGHT UNIT. THIS UNIT IS $250.00. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ABSURD AMOUNT TO PAY FOR A BOLT WHICH IS REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITH FUNCTIONAL HEADLIGHTS. *JB

DRIVER SEAT BRACKET BROKEN, SEAT WILL TIP BACK. IS A SAFETY HAZZARD. BRACKET MADE OF ALUMINUM, NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR BRACKET MATERIAL. DEALER CLAIMING ENTIRE SEAT MUST BE REPLACED AT OUR COST OF OVER $700.00. FEEL IT IS A PART DEFECT AND SAFETY HAZZARD, SHOULD BE RECALLED

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND O/D LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE STEERING COLUMN AND SUGGESTED THAT A DODGE DEALER MAKE THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 176,225 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,725.

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4.7L QUADCAB AND MY HORN, CRUISE AND AIRBAG ALL STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE SEEN A RECALL FOR THIS MATTER ON 2000 VEHICLES, BUT NOT 2001. I AM NOW OPERATING WITHOUT AN AIRBAG. *TR UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR THE CONSUMER STATED HE IS ALSO WITHOUT A HORN AND HAS NOT REPLACED IT DUE TO COST. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

2001 DODGE DAKOTA APPLIED BRAKE AND VEHICLE PULLED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT**CW** THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, PRESSURE WAS BEING PLACED ON THE LUGS/SLIDE BARS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS ALSO QUITE POSSIBLE THE BRAKES COULD BE DELAYED FROM ENGAGING BECAUSE THE BACKING PLATES ARE NOT ABLE TO RIDE UP AND OVER THE WEAR SPOT.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED WOULD LIKE A FULL INVESTIGATION PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 07/23/07 *TR

I HAVE A 2001 DURANGO THAT HAS A RECALL FOR A WIRING CONNECTOR UNDER THE FRONT SEAT. I WANT TO FIX IT MYSELF DO TO MY LAST EXPRIENCE AT A DEALER. I CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID IT HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER AND NO REPAIR KIT COULD BE PROVIDED TO ME. THIS IS WRONG! MAYBE THE DEALER COULD LET ME HAVE HIS CAR FOR A DAY. I COULD DO A LOT THAT THEY WOULD NEVER KNOW. PLEASE HELP!

HEATER CORE HAS GONE OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME CAUSING HOT COOLANT TO BE LEAKED ON MY FEET IN THE CAB AND FOGGING THE WINDOWS SEVERELY WHILE DRIVING. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL YEAR DAKOTA. RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS THAT ONCE YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN FREQUENTLY WITH NO FINAL FIX. I FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE A PERMANENT FIX. MY FIRST FAILURE WAS AT 58K MILES AND NOW MY SECOND IS AT 69K. *JB

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUALLY GOES ON AND OFF. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCHING ONLINE, IT LOOKS LIKE THE CLOCKSPRING IS DEFECTIVE. APPARENTLY THE AIR BAG WON'T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT DODGE REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. HOWEVER, THERE ARE RECALLS ON OTHER YEAR DODGE TRUCKS - BUT NOT THE 2001 DAKOTA, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE BUILT AT THE SAME FACTORIES IN THE SAME YEAR AS THE OTHER MODELS THAT DID GET ISSUED A RECALL. *JB

I BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD A MONTH AGO. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, TIMING CHAIN, WATER PUMP AND NOW THE TRANSFER CASE HAS GONE BAD. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 55000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT ON THE TRUCK AND HAVE PAID THE REPAIR SHOP OVER $1500 IN REPAIR COSTS. THEY ONLY TIME THAT I HAVE GOT TO DRIVE THE TRUCK IS TO THE REPAIR SHOP EXCEPT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, A TRUCK WITH LOW MILES LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT THIS TIME PUT THEY COULDN'T MAKE ANY PROMISES. WE PAID FOR EVERYTHING ELSE TO GET FIXED AND I REFUSE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING ELSE. I PAID $10,000 FOR A TRUCK THAT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE, I'M ACTUALLY SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. APPARENTLY DODGES ARE PIECES OF CRAP TO PUT IT POLITELY. *JB

BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED AND THE TEMPERATURE AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGE STARTED TO FLUCTUATE AND ENGINE KILLED OVER. NOW, REPAIR SHOPS ARE STATING THAT THEY ARE NOW SEEING THIS PROBLEM QUITE FREQUENTLY FOR THE 4.7L DODGE DAKOTA ENGINES BECAUSE OF THE OIL PAN PROXIMITY TO THE ENGINE. REPAIR SHOPS STATED A NEW/REBUILT ENGINE IS NEEDED: ~$3,500-$5,000 JUST FOR THE ENGINE AND ~$1,000 FOR LABOR! *JB

2001 DODGE DAKOTA SLT A PLASTIC PART ON THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR AND MOTOR AS ONE PART. 3 MONTHS LATER THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. IN REASEARCHING THIS, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THIS REGULATOR. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK. THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A NOISE, AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 48,900. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE COIL SPRING CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HEAD GASKET . THE MECHANIC STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK

THE FRONT LEFT POWER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. FOUND OUT IT WAS THE WINDOW REGULATOR, WHICH CAN NOT BE REPLACE FOR APPROX 1 MONTH DUE TO THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. EVERY PLACE I HAVE CALLED, HAS HAD AT LEAST 3 COMPLAINTS OF THIS FAILURE, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, IF ALL AT ONCE THEY ARE ALL BREAKING IN THIS TRUCK. I READ THROUGH YOUR COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE, AND NOTICED THERE WERE SOME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE MANUFACTURE PLANS ON A RECALL OF THIS PART. *NM

THE REARS IN DODGE TRUCKS FAIL WITH MILEAGE BETWEEN 65000 TO 10000 AND THEY TELL EVERYONE THAT IT IS FROM NORMAL WEAR. MINE FAILED AT 83000 RESULTING IN THE REAR HAVING TO BE REBUILT AT A COST OF 2200 DOLLARS

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ONLY THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON THE 2000-2004 DAKOTAS IS COVERED IN THE RECALL AS THE LOWER BALL JOINT ARE THE SAME DESIGN WHERE THERE IS NO WAY TO GREASE UP THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND IT WOULD LEAD TO THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE UPPER BALL JOINTS? *NM

MOVEMENT OF TILT STEERING WHEEL IN LOWER HALF OF RANGE WILL CAUSE SHORT-CIRCUIT OF TURN SIGNAL OPERATION. LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WILL BE INOPERATIVE. RADIO CIRCUIT ALSO AFFECTED. MOVEMENT BACK INTO UPPER HALF OF RANGE WILL CORRECT PROBLEM. AS OF DATE NO REPAIR HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, THE DEALER NOTICED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE SWITCH AND CLEANED IT WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. UPDATED 11/30/2006 - THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS A VACUUM LEAK. THE WHEEL CYLINDER LOCKED UP. *NM

1. NORMAL DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES. FRONT END SUSPENSION STARTED MAKING CLUNKING/POPPING NOISES AND STEERING BECAME ERRATIC. TRUCK HAS 85,000 MILES. 2. COULD NOT SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WAS TOO RISKY. I ALSO NOTICED WHILE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS PULLING THE VEHICLE ONTO THE TRUCK THAT THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WAS LEANING OVER AT ABOUT 30 DEGREE ANGLE. 3. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS HAS BASICALLY RUSTED AND DETERIORATED. LOWER JOINTS WERE ALSO ON THEIR WAY TO FAILURE. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MODELS WERE RECALLED. WHY WEREN'T THE 2 WHEEL DRIVES. THIS PROBLEM MIRRORS THE ISSUE THAT THEY HAD. *NM

FRONT ROTORS BECOME HOT AND WARPED. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND ROTORS WERE ROTATED AND PUT BACK ON. RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK AND IT STILL FELT LIKE ROTORS WERE STILL WARPED... A LOT OF SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL. *NM

LOSS OF ENGINE COMPRESSION, WHICH RESULTED IN THE #3 CYLINDER MISFIRING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYING ON AND NOT ABLE TO RESET. VEHICLE WAS AT THE MECHANICS SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS. AFTER RECEIVING VEHICLE BACK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. WHEN THE PROBLEM OF THE #3 CYLINDER MISFIRE WAS DETECTED, IT WAS CAUSED BY 2 VALVES BEING BENT, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC WAS DUE TO A CARBON BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. VEHICLE IS AND ALWAYS WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND NEVER HAD ANY SORT OF MECHANICAL PROBLEM. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND PURCHASED NEW IN 2001, ONLY HAD 63,000 MILES ON IT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT, THE 4.7L ENGINE IS KNOWN FOR A CARBON BUILD UP AROUND 50,000 MILES OR SO AND THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON ONE. WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT WAS ONE OF THE KINKS THAT DODGE NEVER COULD CORRECT. GEE THANKS! I CORRECTED THE PROBLEM MYSELF, HOWEVER, I TRADED IT IN ON A 2006 TOYOTA TUNDRA. IT'S NO WONDER WHY THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY IS IN SUCH POOR SHAPE! *NM

2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUADCAB BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO, FROM THIS DATE, 09/15/06. BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ON. AFTER CHARGING ME $500.00 + FOR A TUNE-UP, CLEANING THE INJECTORS, AND REPLACING AN OXYGEN SENSOR, THE DEALERSHIP STILL COULD NOT MAKE THE TRUCK RUN SMOOTHLY. THEY ENDED UP TELLING ME THAT IF I LEFT IT WITH THEM FOR A WEEK OR SO THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS PROBABLY GOING TO ENTAIL THEM REMOVING THE HEADS AND WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF $1,000.00. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT MY FRONT END NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. I JUST PUT THE TIRES ON LAST SUMMER, HAD ALL THESE PROBLEMS CHECKED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC. FRONT END DID NOT NEED ALIGNING BUT THEY DID DETERMINE THE PROBLEM WITH RUNNING ROUGH. SEEMS THAT DUE TO A CARBON BUILD-UP INSIDE THE CYLINDER, SOME CARBON ACTUALLY GOT INTO THE #3 CYLINDER AND CAUSED THE VALVE TO BEND SLIGHTLY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NEVER RAN IT HOT, WITHOUT OIL AND ALWAYS MAKE SURE I MAINTAIN MY MAINTENANCE ON IT. LAST YEAR, MY FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT $900.00 WHICH IN TURN RUINED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. THE DEALERSHIP THEN TOLD ME THAT THE BOOTS IN THE CALIPERS WERE DRY ROTTED. I LIKE THE TRUCK BUT IT SEEMS AS IF SINCE I PAID IT OFF 3 YRS. AGO, I HAVE HAD SOME SORT OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH IT EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE TO ANYONE, UNLESS THEY WERE A MECHANIC. MY MECHAN

THE SIDEWALLS ON THE FRONT TIRES SPLIT ON THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE . I FOUND THE DEFECT MYSELF. REPLACED THE TIRES. I STILL HAVE THE OLD ONES. THE TRUCK HAD ONLY A LITTLE OVER 12K MILES ON IT. THE DEALER BLEW ME OFF. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, A WHISTLING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE HOOD. UPON CHECKING, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE HOSE CONNECTED TO THE INTAKE PLENUM WAS BROKE AND HAD SPLIT AT THE END ALONG THE MOLD MARK AND WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THERE WAS ENOUGH SLACK TO CUT BACK TO A GOOD SECTION OF THE HOSE AND IT WAS REATTACHED. A WEEK LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HOSE WAS ALSO SPLIT AT THE END. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP CUT THE HOSE BACK TO A GOOD SECTION AND REATTACHED THE HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED BUT THE CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - AS OF 9/15/06 THE HOSE THAT ATTACHES TO THE INTAKE PLENUM HAS STARTED TO CRACK AGAIN. *NM